Cranking device.



Patented Oct. 4, 1910.

CRANKING DEVICE.

araoev.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. ll, 1910.

Application filed November 12, 1909. Serial No. 527,718.

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, RAY H. CLirToN, a citizen of the United States,residing at East Peru, in the county of Madison and State of Iowa, haveinvented a certain new and useful Cranking Device for Automobiles, ofwhich the following is a specifica tion.

The object of my invention is to provide a crank for the engine shaft ofexplosive engines such, for instance, as is used in automobiles, soarranged that it may be folded to position where it will remainstationary when the engine shaft is turning and where it will bemaintained in position so that it will not interfere with the ordinaryuses of the device to which it is applied, and also so that it willapply a minimum of friction to the engine shaft, and further to providea device of this kind which. may be readily, quickly and easily swung tooperative position where it may be used in crankin an engine in theordinary way.

lldy invention consists in certain details, in the construction,arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device wherebythe objects contemplated are attained, as. hereinafter more fully'setforth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1 shows a plan view of .a part of anautomobile frame and engine with my improved cranking device appliedthereto,

the dotted lines showing the crank in its folded position. Fig. 2 showsan enlarged, detail view, partly in section, illustratingthe end of theengine shaft with my in proved .cranking device applied thereto. Fig.3'shows a detail end view of the crank? ing device embodying byinvention in position for operating the engine shaft. Fig. 4 shows adetail side View of a part of an automobile frame having my improvedcranking device applied to the engine shaft, the crank being shown inits folded position supported by a part of the automobile frame, andFig. 5 shows an enlarged, detail, sectional view through the joints inthe crank.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, I have used the referencenumeral 10 to indicatethe frame in which the explosive engine 11 islocated. This engine is provided with an engine shaft 12. In the side ofthe frame adjacent to the end of the engine shaft is a slot 13 having anenlarged opening 14: at itsupper end for purposes hereinafter madeclear. Keyed to the ,end portion of the engine shaft is a collar 15having a ratchet faced outer end 16. Rotatably mounted upon the engineshaft adjacent to the collar 15 is a sleeve 17 having an arm 18extendedoutwardly from it. At the ends of the sleeve 17 are the ball bearingdevices 19 so arranged as to reduce the friction between the sleeve 17and the shaft 12 to a minimum. An oilcup 20 is also provided in thesleeve 17.

'The crank proper comprises a body portion 21 having a handle at itsouter end, said handle having an enlarged outer end and a reduced bodyportion. The end of the .crank 21 opposite from the handle is bifurcatedto overlap the end of the arin 18 and said ovcrlappii'ig ends are eachprovided with an opening. The opening of the upper end is provided witha cylindrical nut 23 screw threaded on its interior and loosely fittedin the opening. The lower end is provided with a cylindrical washer 24having a tapered opening in it. The crank is secured to the arm 18 bymeans of a bolt 25 having an angular end 26, a tapered portion 27, asmooth body portion at its center, a screw threaded part at 28 to enterthe round nut 23 and'a reduced screw threaded portion 29 at its upperend. The latter is designed to receive the nut 80. The advantage of thisarrangement is that the bolt may be placed in position so that the endsof the crank loosely engage the arm 18, and thenthe nut 30 may beapplied and screwed tightly to serve as a lock nut for holding saidparts in said position Without causing the ends of the crank to bind onthe arm 18.

Formed on the crank 21 is a lug 81 having its inner face provided withratchet teeth at 32 to coast with the ratchet teeth. 16.

In practical use it is obvious that if the crank 21 is held by. theoperator in position with the ratchet teeth 32 in engagement with theratchet teeth 16, the engine shaft may be turned in one direction by thecrank in 11161113111181 usually employed. in cranking or startingexplosive engine's. As soon as the engine shaft is run continuously theoperator may turn the crank outwardly away from the engine shaft andthen inwardlyuntil the handle 22 passes through the round opening 14:and its reduced por tion enters the slot13, whereupon the crank will beheld by gravity with the handle 22 shaft.

in the bottom of the slot 13. On account of the ball bearings whielrareinterposed between the arm 18 and the engine shaft, the friction on thearm 18 will be reduced to a minimum. By the construction shown it isobvious that an engine crank is provided that, when not in use, will befolded to such position that it will not-in, any way be in the road andyet when it is desired to use it the operator may very quickly andeasily 2. The combination with the shaft of an explosive engine, of aratchet device fixed thereto, an arm rotatably mounted thereon, a crankfulcrumed to said arm, a ratchet device fixed to the crank, a handle forthe crank,- said crank being capable of swinging from position with itsratchet device in engagement with that of the shaft to position with itsratchet device moved to-its limit of -movement away from the engineshaft, and] a framehaving a slotted opening therein to receive saidhandle.

3. device of the class described, comprising a frame, an engine carriedby the frame, a ratchet device fixed to the engine shaft, a sleeverotatably mounted on the engine shaft, ball bearing devices inter osedbetween the sleeve and the engine sha t, an arniharried by said sleeve,a crank having a forked end to receive the end of said arm, aninternally screw threaded cylinder mounted in one of said forked ends, acylinder with a tapered opening mounted in the other one of said forkedends, a bolt having a tapered portion extended through said forked endsand through the arm with its tapered portion in engagement with thetapered cylinder, said bolt being provided with a screw threaded portionto engage said screw' threaded cylinder, and said bolt also beingprovided with areduced screw threaded portion, a nut on said. reducedscrew threaded portion, a handle fixed to the crank having an enlargedouter end and a reduced portion adjacent to the outerend, a ratchetdevice carried by the crank to coact with the ratchet device on theengine shaft, said RAY H. CLIFTON.

Witnesses:

L. F. CLIFTON, JOHN W. PETER.

00 frame being provided with" aslot and with a

